Balanced three-way valve



(No Model.) 4 ZVSheets-Sheet 1. G. MILES. BALANGED THREE-WAY VALVE.

Patented Oct. 27,1891.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2, G. MILES. BALANGED THREE-WAY VALVE.

Patented Oct. 27,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE MILES, OF VVELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS.

BALANCElD TH REE-WAY VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,981, dated October 27, 1891.

Application led February 4,1891.

Tof/,ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE MILES, of Wellesley, Norfolk county, Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Balanced Three-Way Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to a balanced threeway valve of simple and inexpensive construction which is especially adapted for controlling the distribution of compressed air.

It consists of a cast-metal shell containing a cylindrical valve-chamber having three outlets communicating, respectively, with three nozzles suitably tapped for connection with three external pipes, either one or two of which may alone be put into communication with the third by appropriately varying the position of a sliding hollow cylindrical valve provided with two parallel rows of ports in its curved wall.

The simplicity and inexpeusiveness of the valve arise from the fact that itis susceptible of being cast nearly in its finished form, the only machine-work requiring` to be done being the smoothing of the interior of the valvechamber and the exterior of the hollow valveplug, the tapping of the open end of the Valvecylinder to receive the cap,and the cutting of screw-threads on the nozzles where necessary to receive the pipe connections.

The accompanying drawings of a balanced three-Way valve embodying the invention are as follows:

Figure l is a longitudinal section showing the valve in its median position, in which it closes all communication with each other of the external pipes. Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the valve at one extremity of its stroke, in which it serves as the medium of communication between two of the external pipes. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the valve at the opposite extremity of its stroke, in which it closes the communication which it served to establish while occupying the position in which it is represented in Fig. 2 and in which it opens a path of communication between a third external pipe and one of the two external pipes which it previously connected with each other. Fig. 4 is a similar section of the valve-shell with the valve and the cap of the valve-chamber removed.

On reference to the drawings, it will be seen Serial No. 380,169. (No model.)

. that the valve-shell A contains the cylindrical valve-chamber d, the wall ot' which is pierced with the two parallel ports?) and c. The port b opens into the jacket-compartment b', extending aroundthe upper portion of the valvechamber and communicating with the nozzle h2, which is tapped at its mouth for connection with an external pipe. The port c opens into the jacket-compartment c', communicating with the nozzle c2, which is tapped at its mouth for connection with another external pipe. .The lower open end of the valve-chamber d opens into a compartment d, which communicates with the nozzle d', tapped at its mouth for connection with a third external pipe. At its upper end the valve-chamber a is screw threaded for engaging the screwthreaded cap c, which is centrically perforated and provided with the gland-packing e for the reception and packing of the valvestem f, affixed to or formed integrally with the g and g2 and having its curved Vwall perforated by two parallel rows of holes h and t', the distance between' the rows h and z' being the same vas the distance between the ports b and c in the curved wall of the valve-chamber. The upper end of the valve-stem f has the usual pivotal connection with the operating-leverj, one end of which is pivotally connected to the post j', secured to the lug A', projecting laterally from the valve-shell.

In describing the operation of this valve it occupies the position in which it is represented in the drawings and in which the valvestem is vertical. When the valve occupies its lowest position-that in which it is represented in Fig. 2-the rows of holes h andi are respectively brought into horizontal alignment with the ports b and c, and communication is thus established through the interior of the valve between the nozzles b2 and c2. In this position the lower end g2 of the valve plugs the lower end of the valve-chamber a, and thus shuts ott communication between the nozzle c2 and the' compartment d and nozzle d. When the valve is raised to its median position-that in which it is represented in Fig. l-it will be seen that it continues to plug the cylinder below the level of the port c, and that by reason of the elevation of the hollow cylindrical valve g, closed at its ends is assumed for convenience that the structure IOO rows of holes h and i above the ports Z) and c it also closes the communication between the nozzles b2 and c2. l/Vhen the valve is raised to its highest position-that in which itis represented in Fig. S-the communication between the nozzles b2 and c2 remains closed, butthe lower end of the valve is raised above the port c, and hence the nozzle c2 is put into communication with the port c and, through the lower end of the valve-chamber, with the compartment d and nozzle d. When a pipe communicating with the cylinder of a singleacting engine is connected with the nozzle C2, the latter in one position of the valve formsa part of the induction-passage by which a fluid under pressure is supplied to said cylinder for effecting the direct stroke ot` the piston, and in another position of the valve forms part of the eduction-passage, through which such fluid is discharged from the cylinder during the return stroke of the piston.

It will thus be perceived that the threeway valve shown and described performs in a peculiar manner the work .of a four-way valve.

What is claimed as the invention isl. The herein-described balanced three-way valve, consisting ot' a valve-shell with three exterior nozzles, an interior cylindrical valvechamber closed at one end by a removable cap and opening at its opposite end into a compartment communicating with one of the said nozzles and having its curved wall provided with two parallel ports respectively oommunieatin g with the other two ot' said external nozzles, a hollow cylindrical sliding valve closed at its ends, but having its curved wall provided with two parallel rows of holes, the distance between said rows being the vsame as the distance between said ports, and a valvestem connected with said valve and projecting outward through a suitable aperture in said removable cap.

2. The hollow valve g, closed at its end'and provided with the rows ot holes 71 and i in its curved wall, in combination with the valvechamber a, the ports b and c, the jacket-compartments b and c', the nozzles b2 and c2, the compartment d, the nozzle d', and means for sliding the valve g to variable positions Within the valve-chamber,as and for the purposes 5o set forth.

GERGE MILES.

Witnesses:

A. M. JONES, J. E. BURNS. 

